Earliest meeting: Wednesday 19th February 1862Final meeting: Wednesday 20th September 1876
The Middlesex town of Hendon stands on the River Brent, with Hendon Manor mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. The first recorded races in the town took place on Wednesday 19th February 1862 in the Mill Hill area, with the opening Flat race won by Mr Stamford’s Glowworm, although the inaugural meeting was slated by the press, ‘trusting that the management of any future meetings will be overseen by someone who is au fait with racing matters’. The racecourse was in the meadow adjoining the Welsh Harp hostelry near the River. Between 1834 and 1835 the meadow had been the site of a reservoir, and would have provided a beautiful setting for a racecourse. Races lasted at the track for an unbroken spell of 14 years, with meetings staged at a range of times during the year. A two day meeting took place on Thursday 20th and Friday 21st September 1866 which proved to be benefical for racing fanatic Mr B Land. He won the Kilburn Handicap with Victoria and the Hendon Handicap with Yellow Girl. The Metropolitan Cup was won by Triumph from Triumpher. When racing ceased in 1876 the area again became famous for racing, but this time it was to witness the first greyhound races in England using a mechanical hare. The final horse race meeting took place on Wednesday 20th September 1876.

If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com

Much of the information about this course has been found using internet research and is in the public domain. However, useful research sources have been:-

London Illustrated News

Racing Illustrated 1895-1899

The Sporting & Dramatic Illustrated

Northern Turf History Volumes 1-4 by J.Fairfax-Blakeborough

The Sporting Magazine

A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt first published in 1996 ISBN 0 900599 89 8

Racing Calendars which were first published in 1727

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses

Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent.